How Narok County Government Has Transformed The Health Sector

Health is a devolved function under the Constitution of Kenya. For years, counties have been trying to invest in and sustain the health sector despite the numerous challenges. Narok County is one such county that has prioritized the health sector.

Narok County is headed by Governor Samuel Ole Tunai. For 9 years, the man has been working, silently for the people of Narok County without shouting about it. He has been working like a fish that lays so many eggs and no one knows, unlike the chicken.

Good healthcare services require not just the existence of health infrastructure, but adequate medical supplies as well and a drive or a walk across the County’s health facilities will give a testimony of the efforts and progress made.

Across the entire Narok County, there are 203 healthcare facilities, which include public and private. Out of these 203 facilities, 116 are owned and managed by the Narok County Government.

“The initial Narok County Health Sector Strategic and Investment Plan 2013-2018 was the pioneer roadmap, whose implementation has seen healthcare dividends through the construction of strategic health facilities,” said Governor Samuel Ole Tunai during the State-of-the-County address.

In a period of nine years, the County Government of Narok has staffed and equipped 36 new health facilities. This has played a role in having the people of Narok County access health services as compared to before.

“As you may all know, in the period preceding devolution in Narok, essential medicines did not reach people who needed them, due to problems in financing, procurement, poor management, and delivery. Health centers and hospitals often lacked adequate supplies of basic medicines, including antibiotics, anti-malaria, and the devastation of HIV/AIDS and cancer treatment was a constant menace,” said the Governor.

The rapid pace of change in health care delivery in Narok County has touched all parts of every sub-county. The health care systems of semi-urban areas of the county have expanded at a pace reflected in the percentage of the economy dedicated to medical care. The county now has more health facilities now in the county than ever before.

There are eleven ambulances in the county that continue to offer emergency evacuation and referral services free of charge to all county residents. On average, 350 life-saving referrals are done every month.

“Our emergency health operation system has managed over 27,000 emergency health evacuations and responses over the last nine years, and we have ensured constant medical supplies so that no resident of Narok County should go to a hospital or healthcare center and fail to get the medical attention they need,” added the Governor.

What is the progress so far?

At the Narok County Referral Hospital;

• New 450 bed hospital new wing – 55 percent

• Medical Training College to admit 250 students – 55 percent

• New Modern Mortuary 50 body capacity – 40 percent

Ololulung’a Sub-County Hospital Isolation Centre is a project being implemented in two phases. Phase one is complete and phase 2 is 95% It includes 3 in-patient blocks/wards of 100 beds each, a kitchen, laundry, incinerator, mortuary, and stone masonry fencing.

• Ntulele Dispensary – Maternity block is 100 percent complete and in use.
• Ilkiragarien Health Centre is 100 percent complete and in use.
• Eor Ekule Health Centre – 100 percent complete, awaiting handing over.
• Nairregie Enkare Health Centre is 60 percent It includes a surgical theatre, an x-ray unit, and two inpatient wards.
• Emurua Dikirr Health Centre is 90 percent It has a maternity wing, 2 wards, surgical theatre, x-ray unit, kitchen, and laundry.
• Lolgorian Sub County Hospital is 95 percent It has a maternity wing, x-ray, 2 wards, kitchen, laundry, and mortuary.

What else do you know about Narok County?